|
Whitehill were first to threaten when Forrester had
sight of goal but hit the side-netting. In blustery
conditions, both sides struggled to find any real
fluency although Whitehill seemed to be coping best.
It was Welfare who took the lead after half an hour
when Young beat his man on the right wing and sent
over a cross to the back post where
Forrester
bulleted a header on goal. His effort hit the keeper
on the legs and then went over the goal-line.
Preston
had an opportunity to equalise seven minutes after
the break when Birrell mistimed a tackle on McColl
inside the penalty area. Up stepped Dale McCall to
strike the ball to McGurk’s left, but the keeper
read the intention and pulled off a great save on
the line to preserve Welfare’s lead. Ten minutes
later, Ryan Curran scored what looked a fine goal
only to be pulled up for a dubious offside decision
and then Andy Hogg was similarly pulled up when he
looked onside at the time the ball was played to
him. Add in two particularly good saves from Russell
to deny Forrester and Birrell and you got the
impression it may not be Whitehill’s day. More bad
luck followed when Curran managed to connect with a
cross the keeper flapped at, only to see his header
drift just over.
With just over 15 minutes left to play a through
ball from Scott found it’s way to Kevin Lee but he
slipped and
Hobbins
kept his cool as McGurk rushed out and slotted the
ball in for the equaliser.
With Welfare failing to then capitalise on a series
of corners and crosses into the box they were felled
by a sucker punch with only five minutes left for
play. A long throw from
Houston
wasn’t dealt with and
Hobbins
was first to react with a crisp shot under McGurk’s
body to seal the win for
Preston.
The goal knocked the stuffing from Welfare who had
restricted
Preston
to very few chances until late in the game.
Whitehill
Welfare:
McGurk, Birrell, Lee, Clyde, Johnston, Martin,
Young, Shanks, Forrester, Hogg, Curran. Subs:
Baigrie, Whyte, Johnstone, Jamieson
Preston
Athletic:Russell,
Barton, Cameron, McGowan, Scott, McColl, Houston,
Cochrane, McCall, Hobbins, Ballantyne. Subs:
McCann, Murray, Jones, Eadie.
Above:
New signing Jamie Birrell gets a Welfare attack
under way.
Above:
Jamie Birrell takes on the Preston defence.
Above:
Paul Forrester heads Welfare into a first half
lead.
Above:
Welfare are stunned as Phil Hobbins hits a late
Preston winner.
|
